Animation CareerPro

Welcome to Animation Career Pro! The 2D/3D character animation training site. This school is intended to help anyone train in 2D character animation (using Flash) or 3D character animation (using Maya) or Cross train between 2D and 3D.

2D

Basics (6 Classes)

We start out with an introduction to the software. In Flash production some asset building is common, drawing tools are introduced so that you can build your own assets. You’ll learn how to animate with symbols which is also common in Flash production. We then move onto some basic workflow techniques, simulating camera moves and finally animation principles and how to combine them to create convincing physics and character performance in animation. At the end there is a basic body mechanics class to prepare you for the next section.

Body Mechanics (5 Classes)

In body mechanics you’ll start using our mannequin rig to demonstrate important physics such as weight and balance. It’s important to convey to an audience that your character has weight and is affected by gravity, making it a convincing performance before we get into acting. You’ll also learn to cycle some of your animation for walks, runs, jumps and any other repeating actions. On the 2D side you’ll learn how to avoid “flipping” the body parts and how to smoothly transition the artwork from one pose to another.

Acting (5 Classes)

Our acting classes begin with some basic mood and posture posing, we’ll get deeper into animation principles with pantomime acting and using silhouettes. We cover digital 2D specific workflow and timing as it pertains to Flash or any other 2D software. How to properly animate a head turn in digital 2D and animate facial animation. Proper timing and posing for lip-sync, accenting and gesturing. Finally, we get into full on acting with a fully rigged character in a medium shot.

Advanced Dialogue (2 Classes)

This is where you will create most of your demo reel material (in the 2D and 3D version of this section). We will take you through animating a monologue (one character in a scene) full body shot. In the last class you’ll work with two characters reacting to one another and we’ll show you how to plan and approach a shot with more that one character in it. Further instruction on finessing your work to make it presentable for animation directors and/or supervisors reviewing your demo reel and deciding who to call in for an interview.

3D

Basics (6 Classes)

The 3D program starts with an introduction to Maya and important tools you’ll need for character animation. You’ll learn how to use the graph editor, the most commonly used tool for refining animation in 3D production. Workflow techniques and animation principles are covered through the entire basics section, most importantly how to combine and use the principles to convey realistic physics and convincing performances. Near the end we’ll start looking at basic Body Mechanics to prep for the next section.

Body Mechanics (5 Classes)

In Maya, you’ll begin to use the 3D Mannequin rig to demonstrate physics, weight and balance and start creating cycles for walks, runs and jumps. More advanced animation principle combinations are being used here. In Maya we’ll cover more advanced graph editor functionality and techniques to refine your animation and offset body parts to create a feeling of torque and power in your movements. You’ll also learn how to apply constraints to get objects to stick to a character (to pick something up for example).

Acting (5 Classes)

Our 3D acting classes also begin with basic mood and posture posing, this is especially important in 3D as beginners often overlook silhouettes in the 3D world. Continuing with the principles and workflow taught in the previous sections, we cover facial animation lip-sync and finally learn some of the industry secrets of character performance. This is where you start to develop some of your demo reel material.

Advanced Dialogue (2 Classes)

In this section you will animate most of your demo reel material. We walk you through animating a monologue and a two character scene. You’ll see how characters act and react to each other and the best way to approach a scene with more than one character in it. We will be working with you to further finesse your work so it will show well when you apply for a job. We know what they’re looking for and we’ll guide you in the right direction.

Written by Ruan Smit

Ruan Smit started Pixelsmithstudios with the vision of creating a new design orientated environment of sharing, learning and expertise development amongst local Animators,Illustrators,Game Developers and VFX artists in South Africa.